Reclining chair



Sept. 27, 1932. A. B. BELL l,879,033

RECLINING CHAIR v Filed Nov. l, 1929 .4 Sheets-Sheet 1 N A bn w INVENTOR 47 f( 1? A @1% n @ATTORNEY Sept. 27, 1932. A. s. BELL RECLINING CHAIR Filed Nov, 1' 1929v 4 Sheetssheet 2 51 INVENTOR ZM et BY .44 TTORNEY mmm@ Sepf. 27 1932. A. B. BELL y RECLINING CHAIR .J 'Filed Nov. 1. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheetv 3 MDN Sept. 27, 1932. A. B. BELLY RECLINIG CHAIR Filed Nov. l, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ENTOR @ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 27, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEl ALFRED B. BELL, F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,v ASSIGNOR T0 HALE & KILBURN CO., 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE RECLINING CHAIR Application led November 1, 1929. Serial No. 403,930.

This invention relates to reclining chairs, and more particularly relates to reclining chairs adapted for use in railway cars, automobile busses, tram cars and the like, but

obviously may be used in any other suitable or desired environment.

Seating accommodations in railway and tram cars and busses require that the seating space be economized to the utmost. At the same time, passengers are becoming more and more insistent on the chairs being roomy` and comfortable. Furthermore, it is very desirable to `have the space beneath the chairs free and clear to permit installation of heaters and so as not to interfere with the floors of the cars being readily and thoroughly cleaned and swept out. The provision of foot rests or pads are also desirable, and, therefore, it is of advantage to have lno mechanical parts of the chair project downward so as to interfere with their installation.

Also it is most desirable, if not essential, to

have the mechanism simple, durable and very .convenient and easy of operation vby an occupant of the chair, so that the occupant may,

with hardly any effort, adjust the chair to the most comfortable reclining position.

Accordingly, the objects of my invention include the provision of a reclining chair which occupies a smaller space than is generally required for chairs of this type, and a chair which is especially desirable for use in railway and tram cars and automobile busses or any other environments Where seating with utmost economy of space and maximum comfort is desired.

Another object of this invention is to provide a chair having a reclining back which is readily and easily adjustable by an occupant while seated.

A further object of my invention is to provide a reclining chair which has none of the reclining mechanism extending outside of the contines of the chair, and which does not interfere with providing the chair.with a comfortable and convenient foot rest or pad, or with comfortable arm rests.

' A further object of this invention is to provide a reclining chair which has the entire reclining mechanism enclosed within the supporting framework.

A further object of this invention is to provide novel and improved reclinin mechaclining mechanism which permits convenienty and easy operation by an occupant seated in the chair. y

Another object of this invention is to provide a reclining chair of the character described which will not rattle or create other objectionable noise due to the vibration of the vehicle in which it is placed.

A further obj ect of this invention is to provide a double reclining chair in which there is an individual, independently adjustable back for each of the two occupants of the chair. y

A further object of this invention is to provide a reclining chair of the character described to which arm rests may be optionally applied without requiring any displacement of or alteration in the reclining mechanism.

Other objects of this invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter. I

ln accordance with this invention, the back standards are suitably pivoted on a support or frame, one pair for each back. Below the pivot points, each pair of back standards are connected by the oscillating bar which, preferably 4at its center, is connected with a notched rack which extends forwardly beneath the seat cushion. A plunger, preferably mounted in one of the members of the supporting framework of the chair, selectively engages the several notches in the rack to hold the chair back in the desired reclining position. A pedal is attached to this plunger, so that the occupant of the chair can' easily depress and disengage the plunger from the rack to allow the occupant to adjust the back to a different inclination. When the plunger' is released, it will engage the aligning notch in the rack, and the back will be maintained in the adjusted position. Preferably, the back is balanced by means of a spring, and a spring is also preferably employed to maintain the plunger in engagement with the rack.

Preferably, the oscillating cross-bar, the notched rack connected thereto, the plunger and the springs are all enclosed in the framework of the chair, so that there will be no operating part outside the confines of the chair.

In order that a clearer understanding of this invention may be had, attention is hereby directed to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application and illustrating certain embodiments of this invention.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a front view of a double reclining chair embodying` this invention, a portion of the chair backs being broken away andV certain parts being shown in dotted lines to indicate certain features of the construction;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the same, showing diagrammatically in dotted lines and in dot and dash lines, the several adjusted positions of the back;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the chair, particularly the reclining mechanism, and is taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a portion thereof, and is taken on the line 4-4 of Fig.'3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of another portion of the chair, and is taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a top view of the front portion of the structure shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a detail and is taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a'detail and is taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of another detail and is taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 2.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, there is a suitable supporting framework for the chair, which framework preferably comprises, for a double chair, two pairs of tubular posts or pillars, each pair being disposed-beneath the center of each individual seat of the chair. The front posts of each pair are designated 1, and the rear posts are designated 2. Each pair of posts supports a semi-circular member 3, which has side anges 4 and 5. Suitable framework 6, for supporting the cushions of the chair, is secured to these flanges 4 and 5. as by means of bolts or screws 7 The framework 6, however, is recessed or spaced at the -members 3. to permit a tubular member 8 to seat in the curve of each member 3. Member 8 doesV not move with respect to member 3 and serves as a bearing or guide sleeve for another tubular member 9, which seats within tube 8.

In the rear end of tube 9 is seated and secured as by rivet 10, an end 11 of a connecting piece 2O which, at its rear is pivotally connected as at 21 to a lug or ear 22 formed at the middle of an oscillating bar or plate 23, which at its opposite end is connected to the lower ends ofthe opposite back standards of one of the backs. To this end a forked projection 24 is formed on each end of the oscillating bar 23 and the end 25 of each back standard is pivotally fastened, as by pin 26, in the forked portion 24.

Above these points of connection, each back standard is pivotally mounted on a pin or stud 27, which is carried on a bracket 28 screwed to the seat frame 6 at each end of the chair. The back standard is held in place by means of a set screw 29, which seats in a recess 30 in stud 27.

At the center of the chair a double pin or stud 31 may be mounted in the center bracket 32 and held in place by means of a screw 33, engaging recess 34 in stud 31. Stud 31 projects from the bracket on both sides. The adjacent back standards are mounted on opposite ends of stud 31 and are held in place thereon by means of set screws 35 which seat in recesses 36 formed in the stud 31. Bracket 32 is secured to the framework 6 of the seat as by bolts or screws 37.

Thus it will be seen that the inclination of each back may be varied by moving the member 9 with respect to the members 3 and 8. Accordingly, means are rovided for locking this member 9 in various positions of adjustment within the guide or bearing tube 8. To this end, the member 9 is provided with a number of notches or recesses, such as 38, 39 and '40, and a plunger 41, having an end 42 adapted to engage in these notches selectively, is mounted in the front supporting frame member 1. A spring 43, disposed between the lower end of plunger 41 and the base of member 1, tends to move and maintain theV plunger in engagement with one of the notches of the rack bar 9. The front of member 1 has an openingor cut out portion, which permits a pedal 44 to be secured to the plunger 41, as by means of screws or bolts 45, so 'that anoccupant of the seat, by placing his heel on the pedal 44, may depress the plunger 41 and permit adjustment of the back into a different position of inclination. Preferably a plug member 46 is disposed within the front end portions of members 3, 8 and 9 and is held in place by means of a screw 47, which'is threaded into member 46 and has a head seating in a perforation in ga e more deeply into 'the notches of the rac bar. A spring 49 is disposed between the plug 46 and the end 11 of the connecting member 20. Thus, this spring 49 balances the weight of the seat back and may be made strong enough to automaticallybring the seat back to raised position when the rack bar is released. The springs 43 and 49 further act as anti-rattlers, thus preventing the parts from vibrating and rattling due to vibrations of the vehicle in which the chair is placed. y

With a view of enhancing the appearance of the seat fro'm the rear and covering parts i.. of the mechanism, a suitable shield 50 may be provided to extend across the back of the chair and to cover the oscillating bars and the parts connected thereto. This shield may be screwed to the seat frame 6 as by means of screws 51, and also may be screwed to the brackets 28 and 32.

To increase the sturdiness and rigidity of the supporting framework, the front support-- in posts 1 may be connected by a horizontal tu ular member 52, and the rear osts 2 may be similarly connected if desire Ifl it is desired to equip the chair with arm rests, such as 53, these may be conveniently attached to the supporting framework .4 6 without requiring any displacement or alteration of the reclining mechanism.

Also if foot rests or pads, such as 54, are desired, these can be conveniently supported on brackets, such as 55, secured to the bo-tl. tom of the framework of the chair.

From the above, the operation of the chair and reclining mechanism will be readily apparent. Should an occupant desire to lower the back, he merely places his heel on the pedal 44 and depresses the plunger 41 out of engagement with the rack bar 9 and then allows his body weight to carry the back into the desired inclination, releasing the pedal, which will then engage in the aligning notch of the rack bar 9 and maintain the back adjusted to this desired position. To raise the back, the occupant need merely depress the plunger 41 and allow the back to -be moved up by spring 49.

Onel of the features of the construction above described, isthe fact that the parts are readily detachable and may be easily taken apart for replacement, repair and cleaning. For instance, it is a simple matter to remove the screw 47 and then when plunger 41 is depressed, to remove the plug 46 and the spring 49 outwardly of the members 9 and 8. Removal of the screws from the pedal allows the plunger 41 and the spring 43 to be removed through a hole 61 formed in tube 8 and framework 6. The chair backs may be removed readily by loosening the screws 29 and screws 35 at the center bracket and disengaging screw 33 from recess 34 of stud 31. The stud 31 is then slid into the back through a hole 62 provided in the bottom thereof. The center bracket is then removed to allow the' seat backs to be disengaged from the end studs 27, and the oscillating bar or bars 23 are disconnected from the connecting member or members 20, and then the backs are free to be removed. With the screw 47 removed and the pedal depressed, the connecting members 20 and the rack bars 9 connected thereto, can readily be removed.

It Will be also readily apparent from the above, that the object of providing a reclining chair in which no part of the mechanism extends with out the confines Aof the seat has been attained. It will also be appreciated by those skilled 4in the art, that the' construction condenses the amount of space generally required for chairs of this type, and that at the same time, the construction and mechanism is exceedingly simple in operation and that the invention permits of a construction which is more substantial than has been possible heretofore.

- Not only has the chair improved reclining mechanism and effected considerable economy of space, but the invention permits of the employment of deep and comfortable up. holstery-and the provision of adequate and comortable arm rests and foot rests if desire As many changes may be made in the above construction and as many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention may be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is understood that all matter contained in the above description or shcwn in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim is:

1. ln a chair of the character described, in combination, supporting framework, back standards pivotally supported on said framework, a seat back supported by said standards, an oscillating cross bar connecting said standards at points removed from their points of pivotal support, a rack bar connected to said oscillating bar and adjustable on the'supporting framework to determine the inclinations of the seat back, a plunger adapted to engage the rack bar to maintain the seat back in adjusted position of inclination, said supporting framework including a tubular post in which said plunger is housed,

combination, a supporting structure, back J standards pivotally supported on said structure, a seat back supported on said standards, and means for maintaining said back in adjusted position of inclination, said means including a guide sleeve mounted on the supporting structure, a hollow notched member mounted for adjustment in said sleeve and connected to said back standards, a plunger adapted to engage selectively in the notches of the notched member to hold the seat back in the corresponding position of inclination, a plug extending into an end of the notched member and a screw secured to the plug and extending through an elongated aperture in the notched member, whereby the extent of forward and rearward movement of said notched member with respect to said sleeve is limited.

3. In a chair of the character described, in combination, a supporting structure, back standards pivotally supported on said structure, a seat back supported on said standards, and means for maintaining said back in adjusted position of inclination, said means including a guide sleeve mounted on the supporting structure, a hollow notched member mounted for adjustment in said sleeve and connected to said back standards, a plunger adapted to engage selectively in the notches of the notched member to hold the seat b ack in the corresponding position of incllnatlon, a stationar plug extending into the front end of sai notched member, another plug extending into the rear end of said notched member and fixed thereto, and a spring disposed within the notched member and abutting both said plugs, and adapted to move said notched member rearwardly, when released from the plunger, to raise the seat back.

4. In a chair of the character described, in combination, a. supporting structure, back standards pivotally supported on said structure, a seat back supported o n `said standards, and means for maintaining said back in adjusted-position of inclination, said means including a guide sleeve mounted on the supporting structure, a hollow notched member mounted for adjustment in said sleeve and connected to said back standards, a plun er adapted to engage selectively in the notc es `of the notched member to hold the seat back in the corresponding position of inclination, a stationary plu extending into the front end of said notc ed member, another plug extending into the rear end of said notched memberand fixed thereto, and a sprlng dis- I posed within the notched member and abuttin both said plugs, and adapted to move sai' notched member rearwardly, when released from the plunger, to raise the seat back, said front plug and. spring being removable forwardly from said notched member when said screw is removed and the plunger disengaged from the plug.

chair of the character described, including, in combination, a center bracket, a stud seated in an aperture in the bracket and having back supporting ends protruding from opposite sides of the bracket, and a screw on the bracket engaging in a groove in the stud whereby the stud is held in place on the bracket.

6. In a reclining chair of the character described, incombination, a seat frame, a seat back structure hinged thereon, a tubular guide sleeve supported against the under side of the seat frame, a rack in said guide sleeve and operatively connected to the back structure, a tubular member extending downwardly from adjacent the front end of said guide sleeve, and a detent for the rack housed in said tubular member, said guide sleeve having an aperture affording the detent access to said rack.

7. In a reclining chair of the character described, in combination, a seat frame, a seat back structure hinged thereon, a tubular guide sleeve supported againstthe under side of the seat frame, a rack in said guide sleeve and operatively connected to the back structure, al tubular member extending downwardly from adjacent the front end of said guide sleeve, a detent for the rack housed in said tubular member, said guide sleeve having an aperture affording the detent access to said rack, and a pedal carried on the detent, whereby 1ghe detent may be disengaged from the rac 8. In a reclining cha-ir of the character described, in combination, a seat-frame, a seat back structure hinged thereon, a tubular guide sleeve supported against the under side of the seat frame, a rack in said guide sleeve and operatively connected to the back structure, a tubular member extending downwardly from adjacent the front end of said guide sleeve, a detent lfor the rack housed in said tubular member, said guide sleeve having an aperture affording the detent access to said rack, a spring housed in said tubular member in association with said detent, whereby said detent is normally held in engagement with the rack, and a pedal carried on the detent whereby the detent may be disengaged from the rack.

9. In a reclining chair of the character described, in combination, a seat frame, a back structure hinged thereon, a tubular guidesleeve, a retaining member of semicircular cross-section embracing and holding said guide-sleeve against the under side of the seat frame, a rack slidably mounted in the guide-sleeve and operatively connected to the back structure, a tubular member extending downwardly from said retaining member adjacent the front of t-he seat frame, and a detent for the rack housed in said tubular member, said guide-sleeve and retaining member having aligning a ertures affording the detent access to the racllj.

10. In a reclining chair of the character described,in combination, a seat frame, a seat back having at each end a supporting standard therefor, said standards having their lower ends approximately on a level with the seat frame and pivotally supported thereon above their lower ends, a bar having its opposite ends pivotally connected tothe lower ends of said back standards and having an offset connecting portion at its center, a rack slidably supported closeto the under surface of the seat frame, a member connected at one end -tothe rack and extending rearwardly therefrom beyond the rear of the seat frame and there pivotally connected to said odset connecting portion of said bar, and detent mechanism for said rack supported beneath the seat frame.

This specification signed this 29th day of October, 1929.

ALFRED, B. BELL. 

